Two British citizens were among three people who died in a light aircraft crash in the Swiss Alps on Tuesday. The plane, a Cirrus SR22T, crashed into a mountain slope just ten minutes after taking off from Sion Airport in the canton of Valais. The aircraft had previously departed from Lugano and was en route to Buochs Airfield in the neighboring canton of Nidwalden. The crash occurred near the town of Leukerbad in the Rhone Valley at approximately 4 p.m., and all three people on board were killed instantly. The victims have not yet been officially named, and authorities are continuing their investigations into the cause of the crash. Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and three helicopters from the Valais Rescue Organisation, were quickly dispatched to the scene after reports of smoke were received. Witnesses described seeing fire and smoke at the crash site, and an image shared by Valais Police showed the plume rising as emergency workers arrived. The Swiss Transportation Board has launched an official investigation into the incident, and the Valais Police, along with the Office of the Attorney General, have also begun a criminal inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. The UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing support to the families of the two British nationals who died in the crash and is in contact with Swiss authorities. In a statement to the BBC, the office expressed its condolences, saying, "Our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time." This incident comes less than a week after another tragic accident in the Swiss Alps. On April 16, a bus carrying 48 Dutch passengers crashed into a guardrail, overturned, and slid down a slope, killing five tourists and injuring at least 40 others. Rescue helicopters airlifted the injured to hospitals, and efforts are ongoing to identify the deceased. The recent crashes have drawn attention to the risks of traveling in the mountainous regions of Switzerland, where weather conditions and terrain can pose significant challenges for drivers and pilots alike.